Container-piercing liquid dispenser



Jan. 19, 1954 G. H. TAMMl 2,666,553

CONTAINER-PIERCING LIQUID DISPENSER Filed Sept. 3, 1949 @EOQGE H Z IMMI,

IN V EN TOR.

J I BY 6? firroemsy:

Fatented Jan. 19, 1954 CONTAINER-PIERCING LIQUID DISPENSER George H. Tammi, Huntington Park, Calif. Application September 3, 1949, Serial No. 113,993

Claims.

.so that the dispensing member is brought into aligned relationship with the opening. Such prior devices have included various lever arrangements and associated attachments which were diflicult, awkward, and. time consuming to properly place in operable position on the container. After an opening had been made in the container by such prior devices leakagewas liable to occur around the edges of the opening because sealing means were not provided. In addition, after sealed containers were opened by devices of the character mentioned. above, it was impossible to again seal the container for preserving fluid not withdrawn from the container.

The principal object of this invention is to design and provide an. improved fluid dispenser for liquids in sealed metal containers which is greatly simplified in both structure and operation and which obviates the disadvantages of the prior devices.

An object of this invention is to design and provide a dispensing device for fluids maintained in sealed containers wherein the device is adapted to puncture a wall of the container and to immediately seal the opening made by the puncture in a continuous movement of the device so as to provide a fluid-tight connection for the dispenser. v

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved device for dispensing fluids wherein the device is afforded a fluid-tight connection with the container and is adapted to be sealed from contamination by the surrounding air for further preservation of fluid left in the container.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide an improved fluid dispensing device which is easy to manufacture, is composed of a minimum of elements non-movable with relation to each other, and is inexpensive. 7

Generally speaking, this invention contemplates 21. fluid dispensing device which may be particularly used with metal containers. device includes a hollow tubular handle having tainer.

The

open ends for conducting the fluid from a con- One end of the handle carries a container-piercing member which is adapted to puncture a wall of the container and is so arranged with respect to the handle that a fluidtight connection is provided between a wall of the container and the device, and the device is firmly held in fluid-tight conducting relationship with the container.

Other objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one modification of a fluid dispensing device embodying this invention, the device being positioned on a metal container for beginning the opening operation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken in a longitudinally extending plane passing I through the axis of the device and the device being shown in fluid-tight connection with the container.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the device shown in Fig. 1, the associated container being shown in diagrammatic lines.

Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, ofa diiferent modification of a dispenser embodying this invention, the section being taken in a. longitudinally extending plane bisecting the device.

Figs. 5a, 5b, and 5c are views of a containerpiercing member used with the device shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 5a being a side elevation; Fig. 51) being a top view and Fig. being a front view of said member.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a metal blank from which the container-piercing member shown in Figs. 5a, 5b, and 50 may be made.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line VIIVII of Fig. 4.

In the modification shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, an improvedfluid dispensing device generally indicated at l 0 comprises a hollow, tubular handle and spout I I provided with open ends [2 and I3. End [2 may be internally threaded as at M for providing threaded engagement with a threaded cap or closure I5 which is adapted to seal end I2 from which fluid from an associated container is discharged.

The handle and spout l I may be slightly curved in order to permit convenient discharge of fluid .ber for conducting fluid into duct it.

with relation to the, edge of end is so into another receptacle. The spout ii may be of generally circular cross-section having a duct l6 of virtually uniform diameter throughout its length. The walls of the spout may be or" slight increasing thickness so as to provide a spout tapering from discharge end. I2 to a widened and thicker erid E3 to facilitate molding of a spout from any suitable material such as methyl methacrylate. Adjacent end it a wall on the inner radius of the curved spout may be further thickened in order to provide a longitudinally extending groove i'l therein for reception of a shank ii} of a container rim contacting member it.

The member I9 may be secured to the spout i i in any suitable manner as by a screw 2c passing through the shank and threaded into the thickened wall of end lit. The member it includes a forwardly extending upwardly directed claw 2% which is adapted to engage the lower edge of a rim 22 normally provided on sealed metal containers and to provide a fulcrum.

End T3 ofspout i! may be provided with an arcuate internal shoulder 23 spaced rearward-1y from the edges oi end it? for providing a seat for a container-piercing member 24. The containerpiercing member Z l includes a rear portion 25 having; an upper generally semi-circular cross section, adapted to be telescoped within the end 13;. Ihe rear portion 25 also includes a bottom transverse wall 26 integrally joined therewith forming a tubular opening in the piercing mem- The bottom wall 28' is adapted to seat against the edge of the bottom thickened portion of end A screw 2'! extends through the top wall of spout ti adjacent end it into threaded engagernent with rear portion 25 for securing the piercing member to the end of the spout.

Forwardly of end #3 the piercing member projects outwardly in the iorm oi generally vertically arranged converging, sidewalls which merge and curve, downwardly to provide a pointed beak or piercing element 213 which is adapted to pierce and cut. a suitable pe ng. in the top wall or a metal container. with an upper po t 2. and a bot o p rt cc defined by theforwardly ext ndi g nd v siins side walls and the rear portion 25" for flow of f i throu h. the pi rcing m mb r in o the spout. ll.

Sur o nding he re r. portionlfi which pa tially pr jects forwardly of. nd 3 may be a se ii i ring 3i of any suitable resilient and yieldable rubber compo iti n or sa ke ng materi l. eal ng ring Iii ma secured gain t annular ed es. of. end i3 of the spout. I I. by any suitable adhesive means so that the sealing. ring will not fall oil the device and become lost when the device is not in Bearwardly of; pper; p 2 o h pi i m mber a pposi e claw; i may be formed a detent. 32' in. any suitable manner asby stamping. The rear edge of detent 32 is spaced from the seal ring 3! a suitable distance such that the detent may spring or slip past a wall of the container being pierced for engagement with the bottom surface of said wall while holding the sealing ring 31 under compression around the opening in the. wall of the container formed by he pi rc me e It should be noted that claw 2i is also spaced as to cooperate with the. detent 32,1or holding the sealing ring 3! under compression and for securely The beak it may be provided maintaining the dispensing device in fluid-tight relationship with the container.

If desired, an air vent 33 may be provided on the top portion of the wall of greater curvature of spout ii adjacent end l3 for the purpose of facilitating the flow of fluid from the can through the spout. The vent 33 may be suitably covered by a pivoted closure 31; secured to the spout by means of a screw 35. A dimple 36 may be provided on closure 3 3 for seating engagement with edges of vent 33 for holding the closure in closed position.

When it is desired to open a container of fluid with the dispensing device described above, the device may be positioned with respect to the container as indicated in Fig. 1 with the claw engaging a bottom edge of an upper rim of a container. The engagement of the claw with the rim provides a fulcrum point around which the device may be upwardly turned in counterclockwise direction in order to puncture and force the container-piercing member through the adjacent wall of a container being opened. As the piercing member penetrates and cuts the wall of the container, it forms a generally triangular opening therein and when thedevice is fully turned to an upright position, as in Fig. 2, the detent slipspast the edge or" the cut opening and engages the underside of said wall. The opening operation is performed by one continuous movement of the device and when it is turned to its final upright position, an opening has been made in the container,' and the detent and claw secure the device to the container and at the same time hold the sealing ring under compression for providing a fluid tight connection of the device to the container.

Fluid may be dispensed from the container tilting the container so as to permit flow through the handle and spout N to the desired fluid-receiving receptacle. If it is desired to pre serve fluid remaining in the container, closure {5 may be threaded into the discharge end i2 oi spout ll and thus the closure together with the sealing ring 3i provides a complete and effective seal for the container.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the fluid dispensing device differs from that shown in the prior modification in that it comprisesessentially only two elements, a handle and spout 4'! and an integrally formed piercing member 42' which includes a claw.

The handle and spout cl comprises anopenended, hollow, tubular, arcuate and tapered spout providing a fluid conduit 43: havinga discharge end closed by a suitable threaded cap as in the prior modification. The opposite end 45 may be provided with a generally annular internal shoulder 46 spaced inwardly from theedge of end 45.

The bottom wall of end 45 may be provided with a transverse, inwardly extending recess 4"! defined by an. upper; outwardly projecting fi at tongue 58' and a lower underlying lip 49. The rear wall of the recess formsa portion of the annular shoulder 45.

Carried by end 45 is the container-piercing member 42 which may be integrally formed'irom a single fiat piece or" sheet metal stamped-- to provide'a suitable configuration as exemplified by Fig. 6., The stamped, flatpieee or metal may take the configuration of a generally central triangular portion hav-ing-outwardly projecting legs in prolongation of the baseofthe triangular portion and providing a shape which maybe conveniently bent to form the member 42 as illustrated in Figs. 5a, 5b, and 5c.

'Arear tubular. portion 59 may be formed by bending a top wall 5i into generally semicirculai configuration, said top wall having a threaded opening adapted to receive the end of a securing screw 52 which extends through end for threaded engagement with the top wall. Vertical side walls 53 may then be formed and each wall may be provided likewise with a threaded opening for engagement with side securing screws (not shown). The vertical side walls. terminate in narrow legs 54 bent inwardly to lie in the same horizontal plane, and centrally of the member, the legs may be bent downwardly to lie in close, face-to-face relationship to provide a claw 56. f

'The rear edge of rear portion 56 is adapted to'seat against the annular internal shoulder it with the bottom wall 5 thereof received within the recess 4! between the tongue at and lip is.

' The lip 49 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot to accommodate the depending claw 56. The claw 5!} is provided with an up wardly pointed end adapted to engage the lower edge of a rim of a container to be opened.

Surrounding the rear portion 55 may be .a generally circular sealing ring 5'? of any suitable resilient gasketing material. The ring Eat may beseated against the outer edge of end 55 and is preferably secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive or bonding means.

A detent 58 may be provided on the top wali 5i spaced slightly forwardly of the sealing ring 5'! and opposite the pointed end of the claw 55; said claw and detent lying in substantially the same transverse plane. The detent '53 may be formed in any suitable manner, as by stamping or punching out said detent and serves to engage'the inner surface of a wall of a container which has been opened by the container-piercing member 42.

Themember #32 also includes a forwardly projecting and downwardly directed pointed beak 59 formed by bending downwardly the apex of the triangular portion of the flat piece of metal shown in Fig. 6. Rearwardly of the pointed beak 59 is an upper inlet port, 66 which appears as a triangular opening in the flat piece of metal and the lower edges of the beak extending rearwardly to integrally join the rear portion define a lower inlet port 6 I, said lower edges providing a cutting edge for forming a generally triangularshaped opening in a wall of a container being opened.

It will thus be apparent that a container-piercing member has been integrally formed from a flat piece of sheet metal by suitable bending; and said container-piercing member is adapted to be connected to any tubular handle which may serve as a spout.

It should be particularly noted that the handle and spout serves two functions, that of serving as a handle for convenient grasping when the device is applied to a metal container and that of providing a hollow, tubular member serving as a spout for controlling discharge of the fluid in the container. The fluid dispensing device of this invention is readily operable for opening a metal container because after the claw has been engaged with the rim of the can, upward turning movement of the handle around the claw fulcrum affords a single continuous lever action for easily forcing the piercing member through a wall of a container. As the handle and spout is brought to its final position, the spout is automatically. locked in position with the container in fluidtight connection therewith. The closure provided for the normally open discharge end of the spout not only prevents accidental spilling of the contents of the container when not in use, but also serves to provide a means for rescaling the metal container after part of its contents have been withdrawn. Thus the fluid dispensing device also serves to provide means for preserving the iiuid contents of a metal container.

The modifications illustrated above are exemplary only and it will be understood that any changes made thereto coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

' Iclaim:

1. A combination container-piercing and fluids dispensing device for use with sealed metal containers, comprising: a curved open-ended tubular spout provided with a removable cap at one end and having an internal shoulder adjacent the other end; and a container-piercing member carried by said spout, said member including a tubular rear portion received within the adjacent end of the spout in abutment against said shoulder, an upwardly directed claw depending from the rear portion and extending through a slot in said spout, said claw being adapted to engage a rim of a container to be opened; a downwardly turned, pointed, piercing portion having converging side Walls spacing the pointed portion from the adjacent end of the spout and adapted to pierce the cover of a container to be opened; top and bottom ports defined by said side walls in said piercing portion and said rear portion for flow of fluid from a container into the spout; a seal ring surrounding the rear portion of the piercing member and seated against the adjacent annular edge of the spout, and a single outwardly and rearwardly facing detent integral with the piercing member opposite to said claw and adjacent the seal ring adapted to snap beneath the wall of a container to be opened for engagement with the inner surface of said Wall, the engagement of said claw and said detent with a container being arranged to compress said seal ring and hold said spout in fluid-tight relationship with a container.

2. A combination container-piercing and fluiddispensing device for use with sealed metal containers, comprising: a curved open-ended tubular spout provided with a removable cap at one end and having an internal shoulder adjacent the other end; and a container-piercing member carried by said spout and seated against said internal shoulder, said member including a tubular rear portion; an upwardly directed claw depending from the rear portion and extending through a slot in said spout, said claw being adapted to engage a rim of a container to be opened, a downwardly turned, pointed, piercing portion including forwardly extending converging side walls provided with cutting edges spacing the pointed portion from the adjacent end of the spout and adapted to pierce the cover of a container to be opened; top and bottom ports defined by said side walls in said piercing portion and said rear portion for flow of fluid from a container into the spout; a seal ring surrounding the rear portion of the piercing member and seated against the adjacent annular edge of the spout, and a single outwardly and rearwardly facing detent integral with the piercing member opposite to said claw and adjacent the seal ring adapted to snap beneath the wall of a container to be opened seal ring and hold: said spout in fluiddiight relationship with a container.

3. In a fluid dispensing device for a container: a hollow beak-like member having side walls converging to provide a downwardly curved pointed end and a top port intermediate its ends an arcuate, hollow, tubular spout connected to said member at they end opposite to said pointed end; an upwardly directed claw disposed below the axis of the member and spaced rearwardly from the pointed end; a sealing means carried by the member against the adjacent end of the spout; and a single detent means integrally formed on the external surface of said member intermediate said port and said sealing means, said detent means being. arranged to snap beneath the wall being pierced of the container into locking engagement with internal marginal edge surfaces of the opening formed by said member, said detent means and said claw being oeoperably arranged to secure the dispenser on a container being pierced in fluid tight relation.

4. A blank. for forming a pointed; piercing element with reinforcing side walls for piercing a wall of a metal container comprising: a sheet of metal of generally triangular shape and including outwardly directed side extensions formed at opposite sides of. the base portion of the triangular sheet and in; prolongation of said base portion; each extension having an, upwardly and inwardly turned hooked endportion; a generally triangular port formed in. the triangular sheet having a base parallel tothe base portion of the sheet; and a detent, formedin the triangular sheet. opposite tothe apex of said sheet and below said port, said detent being virtually in alignment with the inwardly turned hooked portions; the blank being curved with respect to av median line drawn from the apex of the triangular sheet so as to form a downwardly pointed beak having a top opening formed by the triangular port, a bottom opening defined by the outer side edges of the trian gular and a rear tubular section having a depending claw formed by the inwardly turned hooked portions on the extensions.

5.. A blank for forming a pointed piercing ele ment with reinforcing side walls for piercing a wall of a metal. container comprising: a sheet of metal of generally triangular shape and including outwardly directed side extensions formed at opposite sides of the bass portion of the triangular sheet and in prolongation thereof; a port formed in the. triangular sheet beneath the apex thereof, a and a detent formed in the triangular sheet opposite to the apex of said sheet and below said port; the metal of said sheet being curved with respect to a median line drawn from the apex of the sheet so as toform a downwardly pointed beak having a top opening formed by said port, a bottom opening defined by thes'ide edges of the triangular sheet, and a rear tubular section formed by said extensions.

GEORGE H. TAMMI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,601 Merker June 8; 1915 2,089,907 Lyons Aug. 10, 193? 2,131,631 Lackstrom et a1. Sept. 27, 1938 2,179,280 Cary Nov. '7, 1939 2,505,558 Lyon et al Apr. 25,1950 

